Our Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan East and Bamako, Mali Mission

Visiting Government Housing Developments Outside Bamako

We visited a government housing project in Tabakoro today with Oro and Sekou. Tabakoro is about 45 minutes southeast of Bamako. This project began in 2015 and homes (reports say anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 units) are still being constructed. We are thinking ahead to when the day may come when we need missionary housing closer to our outlying areas.

We decided this is probably not the best place to put missionaries, but it was an interesting visit, nonetheless. As I’ve learned about this housing project, I’m finding it’s been fraught with problems–“corruption, embezzlement, and injustice.” The idea is to have low income housing options for those with modest incomes. The result is that in many cases squatters have moved in, or thieves have stolen doors and windows, and electrical wiring. And the in many cases, the people moving in aren’t those for whom the housing was intended.

There has also been minimal installation of water and electricity. We drove through street after street of what looked like unoccupied homes. Here are a few photos I found online:

We were able to walk through a couple of the unfinished homes. They are single family dwellings, with a very small bit of yard space around them, all behind high walls.

The units we saw were two or three bedroom homes with a parlor and a bathroom. There were no kitchens. Cooking is done outside. Each room had one window. There was a small cement porch in front.

Laundry area behind the home:

Maybe some day this will be an established neighborhood, but for now, it’s pretty empty.

In the Neighborhood

Every day I see interesting things. I love being here. I love learning from these good neighbors.

Ladies visiting while they tend their clothing shop:

Bras for sale:

Our local mending boy:

Need luggage?

Foam mattresses for sale:

A nice way to hide the scratches and dents:

An ironing business. He sprinkled the clothes with a bottle of water, then went to work ironing.

Unloading the motorcycle:

Waiting for hire:

A young boy playing while his father works:

The Rams Who Dodged Tabaski!

Tabaski week is over now and people (and sheep) are heading home. These 5 rams on top of a transport bus were enjoying the view!

They weren’t the only ones.

Humanitarian Morning

This morning we had our weekly meeting with the Woodburys in Accra, Ghana; the Collettes, who are on their way home from Dakar, Senegal; the Dadys in Gagnoa, Cote d’Ivoire; and the Morins in Yamoussoukro. We enjoy and learn from these friends.

After the meeting, we met with Sekou and Amadou, who came to sign the contract for the project in Nagele. We are grateful to be able to partner with LDS Charities on our big school projects and we are grateful for these local contractors who will be working with us.

Oro Arrives and we Prepare Missionary Apartments and Investigators

Last night our good friend, Oro arrived from Abidjan. He’s the physical facilities manager for the Abidjan East Mission. He’s come to check on the Elders’ apartment here and to help prepare the second apartment at the church to receive 2 more Elders next transfer.

Today were all at the church, working and cleaning and helping.

This afternoon we had our Distrct Meeting, welcoming Elder Dzato to our little district.

After the meeting, John did baptismal interviews for Sylvanie and Vanessa. They will be baptized on Saturday! Promesse is also preparing for Saturday, but she’s frightened of the water. Elder Dzato told us that when he was young he was so frightened of the water in the baptismal font, he waited 4 years to be baptized! He’s going to help Promesse prepare.

Here are a few pics of the Elders’ apartments.

Church in Bamako

After today, we only have 6 more Sundays in Bamako before we go home. I’m feeling a little panicky about leaving these dear friends. These pictures will help me remember them and our time here.

We had 2 special speakers this morning in our Sacrament Meeting–4 year-old Uriel and his sister, Promesse. Last week Promesse was very sick when their family of 8 came to church. She left early with her father to go to the hospital for some help. We all wished her well and prayed she’d recover quickly from her fever. This week Promise, age 7 wanted to get up and thank everyone for praying for her. She is well. Little Uriel also wanted to thank everyone. The Ngalle family is preparing for baptism. We are thrilled to welcome them into the Bamako Branch.

Today Mike and Judith helped me teach our new classmates to sing “I Am a Child of God.”

Coloring time is always a favorite!

Left to right: Dalina, Judith, Promesse, Mike, Lidvine and Uriel in front

Elder’s Quorum:

Desire, Vanessa, Jeremy, Elder Kamenan, Esther, Elder Dzato

The youth class taught this week by the Elders.

Valerie, our beautiful Relief Society President with James:

Sharing the leftover sacrament bread after the meeting.

The Ngalle children, the Elders and Esther, Desire and Judith:

Saturday at the Church

Last night we had dinner and a movie with our friend, Eric Rands at his place. He lives just a 5 -10 minute walk from our apartment.

This morning we headed to the church for meetings there with the contractor and with Pres Sekou. On the way, we passed this vendor collecting or selling clothing–I’m not sure if it was coming or going.